Preaching The Grace Of God
From The King James Bible – Dispensationally Delivered
Berean
Bible Church – Edgewater, Florida
Acts 17:22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that
in all things ye are too superstitious. 23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions,
I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him
declare I unto you.
Text: 1 Tim 1:16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show
forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
Introduction
Last week we introduced Prayer in the dispensation of grace and in this lesson we will take another
step forward in our understanding of this sometimes controversial topic.
Last time we looked at the word superstitious and how we are not to be superstitious in our prayer
life. We found that a good bible definition of superstitious would be:
Demonically inspired religious activity not based in faith with the promise of physical reward.
Even during the earthly ministry of Christ he warned the kingdom saints against being too superstitious
in their prayers.
Mat 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they
shall be heard for their much speaking.
Today we will begin to look at what prayer means and we will begin to look at the Pauline prayer pattern.
If Paul was given to us by the risen Lord Jesus Christ to be our pattern then it follows that we should
learn from our apostle how we are to approach not only prayer but also every aspect of our walk in grace.
NOTE: Prayer is our communication to God &
The word of God is his communication
to us
What is prayer?
Prayer usually consists of, but not limited to, the following…
Webster’s 1828 Dictionary - Adoration - ADORA'TION, n.
1. The act of paying honors to a divine being; the worship paid to God; the act of addressing as a
God. - Adoration consists in external homage, accompanied with the highest reverence. It is used for
the act of praying, or preferring requests or thanksgiving, to the Supreme Being.
2. Homage paid to one in high esteem; profound reverence.
Adoration, among the Jews, as performed by bowing, kneeling and prostration.
Among the Romans, the devotee, with his head uncovered, applied his right hand to his lips, bowing
and turning himself from left to right.
The Persians fell on the face, striking the forehead against the earth, and kissing the ground.
Old Testament Illustration:
Josh 5:13 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked,
and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto
him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? 14 And he said, Nay; but as captain
of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did
worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?
Paul Says….
Eph 3:14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
He also says… All the saved will bow the knee to Him…
Rom 14:10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we
shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord,
every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12 So then every one
of us shall give account of himself to God.
Phil 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things
under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God
the Father.
Adoration belongs to the King!
Webster’s 1828 Dictionary - Supplication - 1. Entreaty; humble and earnest prayer in
worship Petition; earnest request.
Old Testament Illustration: Solomon's temple dedication
1 Ki 8:49 Then hear thou their prayer and their supplication in heaven thy dwelling
place, and maintain their cause, 50 And forgive thy people that have sinned against thee, and all their
transgressions wherein they have transgressed against thee, and give them compassion before them who
carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them: 51 For they be thy people, and thine inheritance,
which thou broughtest forth out of Egypt, from the midst of the furnace of iron: 52 That thine eyes may
be open unto the supplication of thy servant, and unto the supplication of thy people Israel, to hearken
unto them in all that they call for unto thee. 53 For thou didst separate them from among all the people
of the earth, to be thine inheritance, as thou spakest by the hand of Moses thy servant, when thou broughtest
our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord GOD. 54 And it was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying
all this prayer and supplication unto the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from
kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven. 55 And he stood, and blessed all the
congregation of Israel with a loud voice, saying, 56 Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto his
people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise,
which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant. 57 The LORD our God be with us, as he was with our
fathers: let him not leave us, nor forsake us: 58 That he may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in
all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his judgments, which he commanded our
fathers. 59 And let these my words, wherewith I have made supplication before the LORD,
be nigh unto the LORD our God day and night, that he maintain the cause of his servant, and the cause
of his people Israel at all times, as the matter shall require:
What Paul says…
Eph 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto
with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Rom 1:9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without
ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; 10 Making request, if by any means
now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.
Phil 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall
keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Webster’s 1828 Dictionary - Intercession - INTERCES'SION, n
The act of interceding; mediation; interposition between parties at variance, with a view to reconciliation;
prayer or solicitation to one party in favor of another, sometimes against another.
Old Testament Illustration: Abraham intercedes for Sodom and Gomorrah
Gen 18:22 And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood
yet before the LORD. & ff.
What Paul says…
1 Tim 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions
and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
Also…
Rom 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is
even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from
the love of Christ? …
Rom 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for
as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession
for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that all things work together for good to
them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Webster’s 1828 Dictionary - Thanksgiving - THANKSGIV'ING, ppr. Rendering thanks for
good received.
Old Testament Illustration:
Exo 4:28 And Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD who had sent him, and all the signs which
he had commanded him. 29 And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children
of Israel: 30 And Aaron spake all the words which the LORD had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in
the sight of the people. 31 And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the
children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.
What Paul Says…
Rom 14:6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day,
to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks;
and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. 7 For none of
us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. 8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and
whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. 9 For to
this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
1 Th 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Adoration - Position or approach to God
Supplication - Request - We are beyond
ourselves
Intercession - Others - Compassion
Thanksgiving - Gratitude - Humble acknowledgement
of who we are
To be continued…
